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Preface to Chiropractic FAQs (go to FAQs)
Chiropractic is increasingly being applied to animals, yet is not taught in most veterinary schools or formally recognized by veterinary medical associations. In human health care, chiropractic is a widely used approach. Insurance companies now offer chiropractic coverage because studies have shown it to be a relatively safe and effective treatment for certain musculoskeletal conditions. In human chiropractic, there are over 150 styles–different philosophical and technical approaches. All licensed chiropractors have attended a 3 or 4 year graduate program, passing a national board exam before obtaining a state license to practice.
For veterinarians practicing animal chiropractic, there is no training or licensing required beyond the veterinary degree. The American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) does offer certification for veterinarians and chiropractors after they have attended an AVCA accredited training program, although this certification is not recognized by veterinary medical associations as a formal speciality.
Most veterinarians who offer chiropractic services do have some formal training. There are courses ranging from a few hours of technical training to those that run over 200 hours. There are currently (as of this writing in 2007) 3 AVCA accredited schools that offer animal chiropractic training.
While a small but growing number of veterinarians have taken the time to learn about principles and techniques of animal chiropractic, the vast majority of veterinarians have not. Therefore most are not equipped to inform owners about the indications, risks or benefits of chiropractic. There are no formal studies comparing chiropractic treatment to other forms of treatment for musculoskeletal disease. There are no studies comparing different methods of chiropractic to one another. Although there is a growing body of anecdotal evidence that chiropractic is beneficial, there is little research to support this claim, and even less research on how it works. At this time, animal owners must seek information mainly through non-veterinary channels.
The FAQs on this website are offered as a starting place. Information posted here comes from my own understanding of chiropractic. I offer a simple and general introduction that is not meant to represent views of any particular animal chiropractic organizations or approaches.
Chiropractic FAQs
• What is chiropractic?
• What is the chiropractic adjustment?
• How does chiropractic treatment work?
• How can you adjust horses? Aren't they too big?
• Is chiropractic the same as manual therapy or osteopathy?
• Is chiropractic safe? Could something go wrong?
• Can my own (human) chiropractor work on my animals?
• What types of problems can chiropractic fix?
• How many chiropractic treatments will be needed?
• How much will it cost?
• What training do you have and what techniques do you use?
• What kind of approach do you use?
What is chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a method of health care focusing on musculoskeletal disorders and their effect on the nervous system. Treatment is aimed at restoring normal musculoskeletal function by providing an “adjustment” to the animal's body.
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What is the chiropractic adjustment?
There are many definitions of chiropractic adjustment. The most common definition is a high velocity thrust on a specific joint given by hand or an instrument to relieve pain or to correct abnormal posture or movement.
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How does chiropractic treatment work?
To oversimplify, a chiropractic adjustment affects the neuromuscular system. Muscles move bones. Nerves tell muscles what to do. Although precise mechanisms are not clear, there are various theories suggesting how chiropractic might work. A manual thrust over a specific area may affect stretch and tension receptors in muscles and joints. The effect is to restore normal musculoskeletal tone. Special receptors in muscles, tendons, and joints convey messages between muscles and the central nervous system (spinal cord and brain) about the state of muscle tension. Restoring normal musculoskeletal posture and motion is a central therapeutic goal across all types of manual therapy, including osteopathy, massage, TTouch, and chiropractic. Chiropractic primarily uses a high velocity thrust to achieve results. Other methods of manual therapy appear to have a similar effect on the neuromuscular communication system, so a common mechanism of action may apply across different therapies.
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How can you adjust horses? Aren't they too big?
Many people wonder how you can adjust a creature as large as a horse. Equine chiropractors will tell you that size does not matter, because adjustments are directed at one joint at a time. If you are trained in anatomy and technique, then it is possible to affect a horse with chiropractic treatment. It is not clear how much joints actually move. It may not matter! What seems most plausible is the thrust delivers energy which causes an oscillation through different tissues (including bone, muscle, tendon and facia), transferring a signal to the nervous system.
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Is chiropractic the same as manual therapy or osteopathy?
There are differences between chiropractic and osteopathic philosophical background and training. But the similarity is a focus on manual palpation to diagnose musculoskeletal imbalance, and some type of manual therapy to restore balance to the whole body.
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Is chiropractic safe? Could something go wrong?
For most musculoskeletal disorders of domestic animals, it is likely that chiropractic treatment has less risk than that associated with common medical and surgical treatments for these conditions. There is no published data on the safety of animal chiropractic treatment. In human patients, chiropractic (like all medicine) does have documented risks. Statistically rare complications include stroke or spinal cord injury associated with neck manipulation. A more common side effect is localized muscle soreness. It is not known if these particular complications have occurred in animals following chiropractic treatment. If a practitioner is not familiar with the joint angles of the animal, or if the animal is nervous and moves around or stiffens its muscles during the treatment, soft tissue or joint trauma may occur. It is important that your pet feels comfortable with the practitioner and is relaxed during the treatment. There are some gentle chiropractic techniques that do not use manual thrusts, and these may be more appropriate for a tense or uncooperative pet.
A thorough veterinary examination prior to chiropractic treatment is important to identify patients that might be harmed by chiropractic. For example if your pet has a fracture or a tumor, chiropractic treatment in affected areas is contraindicated.
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Can my own (human) chiropractor work on my animals?
Almost every chiropractor has been asked this question! The answer is not simple. Many human chiropractors do work on animals. But the legal situation differs from state to state. In most states the veterinary medical board considers “musculoskeletal manipulation” of animals to be the practice of veterinary medicine. The term musculoskeletal manipulation is used by veterinary boards because many of the chiropractic state boards say that chiropractic is by definition treatment on human patients. So, according to many veterinary and chiropractic state boards, “veterinary chiropractic” is not a legally recognizable term!
But to get back to the question, yes, your own chiropractor can work on your animal as long as your veterinarian examines your animal first and rules out a medical or surgical problem. Make sure that any human chiropractor you take your pet to has undergone training in animal handling, animal anatomy and animal adjusting technique.
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What types of problems can chiropractic fix?
Many lameness, behavioral, and performance problems can be treated successfully with chiropractic. If your animal has abnormal posture, or can't run, jump or move in his usual manner, it is possible chiropractic treatment could help. But there is no list of exact problems that always respond to chiropractic. Your vet won't know if chiropractic is indicated until a history and physical exam have been completed. Chiropractic indication cannot be determined without first ruling out serious medical or surgical conditions. In some cases even if your pet needs medical or surgical treatment, chiropractic may be used concurrently for more rapid return to function.
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How many chiropractic treatments will be needed?
Depending on the nature of the condition (severity, how long it has been there etc.) some animals need only one or two chiropractic treatment, others need many more. An experienced practitioner can give you an estimated course of treatment based on how similar animals have responded. Many owners find that routine maintenance helps their animals perform well; this may be as frequently as twice a month or as infrequently as once per year.
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How much will it cost?
Chiropractic costs are often lower than those of veterinary medical or surgical treatment for many (non-emergency) musculoskeletal conditions. As with other veterinary services, you should get a price estimate before consenting to treatment.
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What training do you have and what techniques do you use?
My chiropractic training includes a 220 hour course at an AVCA-accredited program and I am certified in animal chiropractic by Parker Chiropractic College, Dallas, TX. I have also completed 30 hours of training in another method of animal adjusting called Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation (VOM). This is a gentle method using a hand-held instrument to make an adjustment. In VOM, the adjustment is even lower-risk than with manual techniques because in VOM the practitioner does not physically attempt to move a joint. I have found VOM to be particularly effective on nervous or tense animals that are resistant to the physical force of a standard adjustment. In some cases I use a combination of the treatment methods and techniques. I have apprenticed with animal chiropractors experienced in diverse methods and I have learned additional techniques from them.
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What kind of approach do you use?
As a veterinarian, I assess each animal and consider general health and wellness before proceeding with any chiropractic or VOM techniques. I also rely on my training and experience as a farrier to obtain information about hoof balance and its relation to overall musculoskeletal balance. I use a gentle approach. I respect each animal and proceed with treatment after obtaining a complete history and physical examination. I also draw on my lifelong horse experience to help me assess horses and help owners manage ongoing treatment.
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